Gabby Giffords: “I rise today because signing a robust SCHIP authorization bill into law will truly make this a happy new year for more…”

“I rise today because signing a robust SCHIP authorization bill into law will truly make this a happy new year for more than 170,000 kids in my home State of Arizona. The coverage that they receive through Arizona's SCHIP program, known as KidsCare, will change their lives, will change their futures and will change the future of the country. At the end of 2008, more than one out of every seven or over 16 percent of kids in Arizona were uninsured. That makes Arizona the fourth nationally for the percentage of children in each State that goes without health insurance. I am deeply concerned about the worsening economic crisis, and what the growing unemployment means for health insurance in our future. As we work to stabilize our economy, Democrats and Republicans have to stay united for our children. We are their representatives. We are their voices. We have to speak out for the kids of our Nation. In this economic climate, we must not fail to recognize that health care continues to be incredibly expensive, the most costly economic challenge confronting our families and businesses. I urge my colleagues to vote 'yes' on the SCHIP reauthorization.”